Collapsible traveling-bag.



H. C. GAMBLE.

COLLAPSIBLE TRAVELING BAG.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 12. 1916.

00 l 9 1 r0 0m 6 D M m 6 M P HELEN CIGAMBLE, 015 NEW YORK, N. Y.

UULLAPSIJBLE TRAVELING-BAG.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, l'lnLnN C. GAMBLE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible .Traveliug-Bags, of of which the following is a description.

My invention is directed to collapsible traveling bags, and particularly to those types adapted to carry ladies hats and other articles of more or less large dimensions and of delicat and expensive nature.

Referring to a useful form of my invention, the collapsible traveling bag comprises a body portion formed of fabric of suitable character, a bottom including a collapsible stiffening element, and a top closing means. Preferably, additional collapsible stifiening means are inserted at other parts of the device to secure certain desired shapes.

ln most forms of my invention, collapsibility of the device is attained preferably by means of metal strips or hands constructed to be readily compressed or reduced in extent of opening.

Other features and objects of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of Fig. 1, but showing the device opened; Fig. 3 shows a central vertical sectional view and modified form of collapsible bottom; Fig. 4 is a detail bottom plan view of a collapsible bottom formed of substantially rigid material; and Fig. 5 shows one form of a collapsible metal member serving as a collapsible stiffening means.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the bag is shown as substantially circular in shape, the sides being formed of the fabric 1 of suitable character capable of excluding dust and adapted to the purposes desired, as will be understood. At an intermediate point, the wire band 2 is positioned and is constructed to permit the same to be reduced in extent of compass. One desirable form of such wire band is shown in Fig. 5 wherein the band terminates in eyes.3, 3 loosely receiving the band so that upon application of pressure the extent of opening of the band 2 will be reduced or enlarged, as will be understood. Adjacent the top of the bag,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1 5191145.

Application filed January 12, 1916. Serial No. 71,641.

there is provided the draw string 4, or equivalent means, for the purpose of drawing the top of the bag together to close the same, as indicated in Fig. 1. The draw string 4, as shown in Fig. 2, passes through a gather formed in the fabric 1. The fold 5 at the'top portion of the bag serves to seal the opening of the bag 1 when the draw strings 4t have'been pulled to close the neck of the bag. The loops 6, 6 serve as means for suspending the bag, as from a hook in a Pullman or other railroad train or from hooks in an automobile. The bottom 7 of the bag, as shown in Fig. 2, is formed of fabric similar to the fabric 1 of the sides and in such form of my invention it is desirable to provide the additional band 8 similar in construction and function to the said band 2. The pockets 9, on the interior of the bag, as at the bottom and on the side thereof, are adapted to receive a veil, gloves, etc, as may be desired by the user.

The bag as shown in Fig. 2, is provided also with the auxiliary cords 10, 10, running from the upper gather 4 and about the. draw string to the lower band 8 and if desired. also about the band 2. The numher and position of such auxiliary supporting cords will be chosen in accordance with the purposes of the use of the device. The supplementary loops 11, 11, are adapted to suspend the bag from an intermediate point thereof. I have also shown the bag illustrated in Fig. 2 as provided with the parti tion member 12 formed of suitable material, such as fabric, sewed at the edge 13 onto the sides 1 of the bag and provided at the inner edge 14 with a gather and draw string 15 for the purpose of subdividing the interior of the bag whenever desired.

The bottom of the bag shown in Fig. 3 is formed of preferably inner and outer layers of fabric 16, 17, the latter being provided with an opening closed by clasps 18 to permit the collapsible bottom proper 19 to be inserted or withdrawn during the opening of the same. The bottom proper 19, as indicated in Fig. 4, may be formed of two sections 20, 20, and provided with the pivoted locking braces 21 and catches 22, to allow the bottom sections 20, 20, to be locked together to form a stiffening bottom means. Upon turning the locks 21 to the dotted positions indicated by 23, 23, the bottom sections 20, 20, may be separately'withdrawn through the opening of the fabric 17 and permit the bag to be collapsed and placed in a valise or the like.

The form of bag shown in Figs. 1 and 2' is collapsed by properly applying pressure to the adjustable bands to thereby reduce the diameters of the same and cause the fabric to be drawn together. Supplementary stiffening means such as stays extending upwardly and downwardly of the sides may be employed-when desired. The fabric of the bag or container itself may be moisture proof or a lining of moisture proof material may be provided.

From the above, it will be noted that my invention is a bag or container oflmproved construction and adapted particularly for inclosing articles having parts of fragile or delicate nature and of varying s1zes,

whereby protection is afforded against lateral stifiening means disposed intermedi-' ate said top and said bottom variable at will comprising a portion thereof displaceable relatively to another portion thereof and extending peripherally along the sides of the container.

2. The combination with fabric formed into a container and having a bottom, of lateral stiffening means variable at will comprising a portion thereof displaceable relatively to another portion thereof, collapsible stiffening means for said bottom and means for suspending the container.

3. The combination with fabric formed into a container and having a top and a bottom, of means for closing the top and lateral stiffening means disposed below the top and variable at will formed of a plurality of spaced members carried by the fabric, each member comprising a portion thereof displaceable relatively to another portion thereof and extending peripherally along the sides of the container.

4. The combination with fabric formed into a container and having a bottom, of lateral stiffening means variable at will formed of a plurality of spaced members carried by the fabric, each member comprising a portion thereof displaccable relatively to another portion thereof and eX- tending peripherally along the sides of the container, collapsible stiffening means for said bottom and means suspending the container.

5. The combination with fabric formed into a container and having a top and a bottom, of means for closing the top and lateral stiffening means intermediate the top and the bottom comprising an elongated rod of pliable material extending peripherally along and carried by the sides of the container, said rod having each end provided with a loop embracing another portion of said rod.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HELEN G. GAMBLE.

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